Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Many national and international efforts have been made over the past few decades to improve access to safe water and improved sanitation in developing countries. However, the net outcome is reported to be not proportionate to the efforts made and money spent. The reason could be the perception that water supply and sanitation are purely technical and engineering issues which science and technology solve the whole problem. Such a view ignores, however, the, institutional political and cultural aspects of the problem.
This minor field study has tried to understand multi perspectives of water and sanitation issues by conducting qualitative research at the biggest slum (Kisnyi) in Kampala city. The research methodology used for this study was Soft Systems Methodology (SSM).

According to the stakeholders, water supply issue at Kisnyi is being handled well. It has reached a level that one can obtain water at a distance of no more than 200m from their residences. Hence, this study focused mainly on two highly prioritized sanitation issues: the solid waste management and toilet issues. Though the SULABH toilet introduction to Kisnyi is appearing hopeful undertaken, it is highly recommended at this moment that there should be sensitization work to change the landlords' perspectives at present of no interest in building toilets for tenants. Moreover, behavioral change of those who do not value toilet use is very important. The act of discharging toilet waste direct to drainage when it rains needs serious intervention. Since all sort of solid waste that are blocking drainage canals are disposed recklessly everywhere at Kisnyi, an immediate campaign to collect the waste is recommended.

The problems and issues at Kisnyi that are related with water and sanitation are many and the only way to improve the situation is if and only if a holistic approach is adopted. Hence, a large scale and long term project or network based on system research for intervention that can transform Kisnyi from slum to no slum is recommended.